The New York Herald Newspaper, November 26, 1858, Page 2

2 Of eo dollars, except on route number wate was to be two doliars and fifty cents. ‘The petition of the persons seeking the contract on route: number six, designated Norfolk, Va., as the American port, bot Mr. Florence, who is always alive to the in- torests of Philadelphia, substituted it for Norfolk in the | Dill which he introduced. The approximate value of | American commerce now annually passing over this route 45 represented in the petition as $35,000,000, The compe- | Ulion for the carrying of that trade onght to induce the establishment of the line, with or without a government ‘Subvention. In the Senate, on one of the closing a | Mr. Kennedy, of Maryland, introduced a bill to establish a Line of mai! steamships between the ports of y York, | Philadeipbia, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah ‘and New Orleans, in the United States, and Southampton, im Ragland and thence in auxiliary steamers, carrying the | Closed United States mails for the Continent to the ports of Havre, in France, and to Antwerp, in Belgiam—the de Partures to be four times ineach month from the United States, in alternate weeks, from the ports aforesaid, aad four @mos in each month from England. Both these propositions will probably be renewed at this session, without, Lowever, auy very flattering pros pects of success. six, where the ys of the session, | POSTAL REFORM. Tt is wot at all unlikely that some plan will be matured | this substitute acted ou, And adopted at this session to make the Post Office De- partment of tue government self sustaining, That is not to be done, however taking any retrograde move- Men! in regard to cheap postage, as was contemPlated by Seoator Hunter's Dill, introduced at last session, which ‘was, to raise the uniform vate of postage for any di betweeu places in the United States. not exceeding three thousand miles, to five cents, and for any greater dis- tance, to ten cents. No more unpopular piece of legisla- tion than that could be indulged in; and yet, although the Senate did not act on Senator Hunter's bill, it did engraft it wy the way of an amendment to the General Post Office Appropriation bill—an amendment, however, in which the House refused to concur, aud which consequently fated To make the Po: Department self sustain. ing it is not necessary to increase the rates of postage. All that is required is to abolish: the franking privilege, and have no deadheads by mail any more than by railroad, That wl! bring the receipts and expenditures of the Post OMice into closer relationship: and besides that, it will save the genera roment at least two millions a year in the public printing line. Wh gumeois are now ordered to Boogrezsmen among their constituents hundreds of thousands of do. + printed for distribution by and Ww supply wrapping paper to the < of Washington, not a’ thou- saad would be ordered if the Congressman had to pay for Weir transmission to his district by post or express, It ‘0 less than $7,000 a year to send ic douments home to Salt Lake City. 4 go so far in the right way , last ses the Post Oftice appropriation bill an the franking privilege ; but the in it, partly because it was a mat peen treated iu an independent bill, costs t Pathe Thes Bion, as to attach amen iment abotishin House refused to cone ter which should ba fwsteas of being tagged on as anameudment. The Senate @:0 also sppend some ridiculous amendments to the same bill, which the se also rejected. Oue was to have the Post Offic ertisements of uncalled for letters Published in the newspaper, not that had the largest cir- ulation ia the town or bot in the one that would Pub ch them cheapest. The other was to debar news- papers from getting their correspondence out of We Post ¢ except during the regular hours of business. What Senator —Collamer’s Object could be in trying to have such a rule adopted we do not know. It is possible that 't may not have been iwioaJod as a Ging against newspapers, which sometimes are allowed such privileges: but, if uot, he has been fighting windmills in the bill be introduced, the first sec tion of which provided That post of ‘hall be open for the rece: and deli- 5 »vaiter for all persons at ino practice or arrangement shalt be ny person or persons, for any consi- Dtain ther letters or papers earlier at said » all or any others may recetve their letters or ervfor ag feeling prevoiling in regard to ranking privilege; and it is not at all improbable that it will be abolished this session, as it has been abolished in Great Britain, where even the Queen has to pay the po: own letters, Its abolition Would he a saving to the Treasury of not less than five mnilions a year THE TARIFE. During the cor of the last session the Committee ow Commerce of the Hou Reprosentauy Jobo Cochrane, of New York, i chairm: tunmense ainount of labor and time to the measures calculated to benefit the Wy, and although the bills repor acted epon, the we + devoted an maturing of om the coun by them were not labors, it is to be hoped, are not to be Without result. The revision of the tariif, witha view, by the imporition of a bigher scale of duties, to. in Fevenues of the country , «lI doubtless be atom Besson, but there s Little prospect of wmy change being affected in that respect between and the 4th of March neat. It is said that Secretary of the Treasury is of opwion that with a revival of trade the receipts of import tuties uader the proseut tariff will soon be adequate to the wants of government. Hi efore, re Commend a revision. Hh pts for the Dext Gscal year at $50,000,000 1,000, 8 tha dan will be required of a duty of twenty pero 0 Wea and coffee; but that would be a most anpoy Pw - ts dat all, it ie ® that to regard to many articles specitic duties will be tub. Btduted for the preseut ai valorem duties. ABOLITION OF LAPORT DUTIES Mr. Noyce, of South Ca afirm bel Power of (ree trate and direct taxation. thon of bis a welect committee was minted Lat 84 tee ¢ question, and be, as chairman, presented ar r m of the expeuditures of the govern m ws. the existing duties ou imports & 7 . ne up incidentally, if not di Fectly, on the adoption of the repo COPLFICATION OF THK REVENCE LAWS. fidcatioa of the revenve laws, a work requiring industry apd research, a Of the subject, wax uuatured last somsi 5 Commerce. and reported to the Cochrane This bili has been made the ape th 1 Wednestay in Dev an ven if it be not Acted on then, it will probably be taken up and passed this session. The bill Gills two hundred and eighty-nin Printed 5 and as it could not be very ently discussed except by those few momber who are familiar with the subject, we may presume Liat Congress will take for granted that it i¢ a well con fidered aad proper measure, aud pass it on faith. During the recess Mr. Cochrane bas perfected the bill in regard | Particulorly tothe aystem of # surement of vessels ‘The prowent system of estimating the tonuage of vessels | by an arbitrary rule of surement offers at once a faci Wig (© commit fraud wpon the goverament—the actual | Capri,” be.ng sometimes more than double the registered | Capacity —and operates injuriousiy on the models of our | Marine. Mr. Cochrane proposes to have the registered Yonwage correspo: the voase!, to be a exactly with the actual tained by of con pac an interior eur Gucted on mathematical principles. He thinks that the | @hange will show the aggregate tonnage of the United | States to be from two to three times as large as the pre. | Bent figures would indicate j PROTECTION TO FEMALE EMIGRANTS, | Besides this measure, so important to the commeres of the country and to its revenne, there are other measures Pending in either house affecting the fame subject More or less remotely. Mr. Cochrane reported a bill from the Committee on Commerce, declaring it f | @m the part of a captain, master, or subordinate | OMicer of festenger ship to sede oe prow | @nee my femste peer ox the vernes | Benstor Seward inwoduced a similar measu nm ihe Bonate, 04 the Committees on the Judiciary t body Fepowed back a eubstitute for it, declaring every captain Commander or other officer, surgeon or saikr, of any ves. Bel bringing passenrers to the United States, who shall Puring the Fuyage of ner promise of mar. Fiage, or by threats, or by the exercive of his authority Or by folicitation or the making of gifts or presenta, se @uce and have illicit connection with any & rch vease ale paseen Ber, euilty of a misdemeanor, Habvie to shed by im. Prisonment for a tarm not exceeding twelve months, or by 8 Gne wot exceeding five thovsand dollars. po conviction Bowever, to be had on the testimony of the fomaly tedneod Basupported by other evidence, nor ubless an ind. tment Mall be found within two years after the commige en the offence, and provided further, that the suteequen Marriage of the parties seducing and seduced may Wy Pisaded in bar of a conviction. CONCERNING SRAMBN. ‘Tue Sonate Committee on Commerce also reported a bill Gectaring the owners, and in certain cases, the American vensels liable in case of damages to any ove of Ue crew Whe shows be maltreated by We master or is, that the moment the polit taining onedlt in the States of Michigan, Wiscous Minnesota, a river impr mate. This bill, if enacted ialo a law, will have a salu tary effect im checking the brutality of officers towards their crews. SECURITY OF PASSENGERS ON STEAMERS. There were some half dowa bills and amendments introduced into the two houses last session to provide for the better security of the lives of passengers ou board of vessels propelled in whole or ia part by steam; and the Committee on Commerce of the House reported, through Mr. EB, Washburne, a substitute for the bills referred to it. Mr, Washburne strove hard last session to have but did not succeed, He will have it up again this’session. Tt provides for the inspec- tion of ferry boats, for the employment by them of Licensed pilots and licensed engineers, prescribes rules for navigating rivers, canals and lakes, for using signal lights, &e., regulates the boats’ pumps and sigual lights of sea going steamers, aud goes into a detailed system of legisla tion calculated to produce greater safety to passengers on steamers. ENROLM NT OF VESSELS AND RECORDING CON- VEY ANCES. There were two bills reported from the Committee on Commerce in the Senate amending and defining the act for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels to be em- ployed in the coasting trade and fisheries, aud for regis- tering the same—passed Feb. 18, 1798; and the act of July 29, 1850, providing for recording te conveyances of vessels, and for other purposes. Mr. Cochrane's bill for the codification of tho revenue laws'will probably render unnecessary the passage of these bills. MARINE AND NIGHT SIGNALS. The Senate Committee on Commerce aiso reported at the last session a bill to compel all sail vessels of the burden of twenty tons and upwards, navigating the wa- ters of the Northwestern iakes—viz., Lakes Superior, Ha- ron, Michigan, St. Clair, Erie and Untariomand including the rivers discharging into, or bays and other navigable wa- ters connecting with the same, to be provided with a suita- ble set of signal lanterns. or lightiug apparatus, to be ap- proved by the supervising inspector of steamers for the district in which said vessel is earolled or registered, un- der the penalty of one hundred dollars fine and liability. ‘The same committee had also referred to ita bill com- pelling the owner or owners of each seagoing ship or ves- sel of the United States to provide such shiyror vessel with a copy of “The American Code of Marine Signals,’ also with a complete set of Rogers’ calm and storm nals, for the purpose of communicating phrases and se tences from said code, and adopting same as the national Signals of the United States, under the title of “The Ame- rican Marine Siguats "' Provided that the price demanded by the author of said code should not exceed ten dollars for a copy of the aame, together with the right to make use of his invention, and that no change should be made in said code without the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. For mang Congresses past there have been invariably ne or more members in either House whose hobby was. the passage of a measure giving homesteads on the public lands gratis to all who might chooseto settle on them. Perhaps it would be a more equitable mode of distributing the public lands than consigning them by the thousand Square miles to scheming railroad corporations. But yet the homestead bill does not count one-fourth as many friends in Congress as a railroad land grant billcan always command. And ¢o little progress has beea ever made in advancing such a measure. It has never gone further than the introduction of a homestead bill, its reference to a committee, and a speech or two from the member whose hebby it is. There were two such bills introduced in the Senate last session—one by Senator Foot, the other by Senator Johuson. Both were to the same ge- neral effect—that any public lands now subject to private entry at the rate of a dollar aud twenty-tive ceats per acre, may be entered free of cost by any per- son over twenty-one years of age, or who is the head of a family, and who is also a citizen of the United States, or, being now a resident, shall have declared his intentions to become a citigen; and that after five years re. sidence and occupaacy thereof—app.« ation beimg made on affidavit to the Register of the Land Olfice—a pateat shall issue therefor—such homestead not being liable to the satisfaction of any debts contracted prior to the issuing of the patent, and no person having a right to ea- ter more than the one quarter sectwn. Senator Johuson « bil! differs from the other in restricting the advantages of the act to persons who are citizens of the Uuited Stutes at the time of its passage. In connection with the same subject, Mr. Grow, of Penn- sylvania, introduced ia the House a bl! enacting thatfrom and after a certain date (the 16th of September, 1358, w: specified) no public lands should be exposed to sale by proclamation of the President until the same should have been surveyed and the return thereof filed tu the Land Office for at least Gfteen years, The object of this bill was to prevent the monopoly of the public lands by capitalists, giving settlers fifteen years to make their selections Grow’s bill may be passed this sesvion, as its fairness ix homestead bills stand littl chance being touched, There are sev eral other propositions pend ing. some of them of a private character, ia reference to settlers on public lands aad ou Iadian reservations THE PUBLIC PRINTING. Thee is not a subject that comes up regularly for dis cussion in either house that elicits more angry debates or gives so much general annoyance as that of the public print ng. It ie constantly obtrudi tf ow the attention Congrese. am enormities are as constantly exposed. At the opening of cach Congress it comes ap on the ques tion of the election of « public: print then corrupt orined im every section in quest of ths y profitable berth, and it i< a far more troubles some affair usually than the electious of ai. the other off cerscombined. It comes up alsvevery time that there is a resolution offered for the priliting of extta copies of documents. At the begin of lust season a special committee was formed to investigate tu 1. The report presented by Mr. George Taylor exposed th rious system that existed of th for a large per centage of prolits to the actua Mr. Wencel!, and also of extravagantly large orders of useless public documents being made. so as to cuable Wendell t of the other cormorants and realize an in come of se ad dollars for himself, medy this Mr. Taylor introduced « bill organinag a ernment printing bureau, with tts reg’ stall of su perinteudents, editors, reporters, compasitors, pressinet, folders, binders and messengers, The bill was aot acted for sab, tT on, but will come up at this session. If it were possidle to dissever the proposed bureau in toto from political in fluence, and from the baleful effect of executive patron roe in each ¥ making th a the test of vermanent, the ove. and would eifeo jons annually to the pover partment to a port of selection of reperters capability, ane thea measure would be a 20 dam ediate saving: iment. But the danger ans would got it their bands they would fill all the places with incompaent per- fons, and convert the printing bureau into a Sreenwich hospital for political loafers, just as they do wits the C tom Houses and Navy Yards. That diMeulty, however, might be obviated if appointment to office ane the retain ing of office were not dependent upon the political com plexion of the incumbent, and if the selection were beft to experience? and practical person as Mr. Rives, Making t most deeira’ of mi | of the Cite. The Senate did actually pase at last session a bill on the subject of public printing, but it was merely amendatory of the former act, fixing the prices, ke. It contained, however, one very necessary provision, and that was that when the same work was ordered printed by each Houre, the composition should not be doubly charged, waters such a length of time rvened as to render re composition nd unless it was actually per The rging for the same work is now forme eye of the great sources of profit to the public printer ‘The House did not act at all on this bill INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. The slack coalition of the treasury, and the discredit, nto which the system has fallen of late years, have not | been favorable to the friends of internal improvement in | the shape of removing snags aod sandbars, and other ob stacles to the navigation of rivers aud lakes Neverthe less, these improvetnents will be pressed upon Congress ve m it roughs, of Niagara, in the Hous New York, of to the parties having the legal right to re fesaion with all the force that log-rolling arrange. tx can lend them. Among bills of this character ia ‘on was one iatroditeed by Mr. Bur granting to the Sate of reduced at last se ve the same, pursuant to chapter 695 of the laws of the State of New York, catitied “An act t incorporate the the purpose of aiding io the construction of a ship canal ra Ship Canal Company,” passed July 21, 1858, for ‘ound the falls of Niagara, in the @aid State. fowr millions acres.of pablic lands, to be selected from the lanis re and 4 within one hundred miles of Lakes Supe Hor, Michigan, Huron, St. Clair, and connecting navigable aod from the head of navigation on the St. Louis river, eighteen miles beyond the head of Lake Superior Mr. Pugh also introduced a im the Senate for the eM O GAyigation at tag RMT tug Qu river, | | | NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, Li Some Senators and members of Congress for electioaeer- ing purposes. one of ihe provisions of which was the assigument by the United States to the State of Kentucky of all their interest iu the present canal arouud the Falls of the Ohio river, ‘upon condition that the State of Kentucky should theace- forth cause the said canal to be kept open for the passage of steamboats and other vessels of proper capacity navi- gating the Obio iver at certain rates of toll, and that no toll suonld everebe charged on any steamboat or other vesselon account of the troops, property or mails of the United States cafried by such steamboat or vessel. LIGHTHOUSE BILL. Mr. Comins, after great trouble, managed at the close of last session to procure the passage by the House of the bill making appropriations for Lighthouses, lightboats, buoys, &c., and providing for the erection and establish- ment of the same, and for other purposes; but, for want of time, it failed in the Senate. It wll probably be oue of the first bills passed this session. CLERKS IN THE DEPARTMENTS—SCHEME OF APPOR- . TIONMENT. ‘Some members of the House are very desirous of bav- ng a better understood and more immediate right of ap- pointment to clerical offices in the federal city than they now exercise, by means of thoir influence with the ap- pointing power. Mr. Robt. Smith, of Ilinois—the same gentleman who originated the Fort Snelling investigation— introduced a Dill last session, which was referred to and reported back by a select committee of seven, enact- ing— o ‘That hereafter all appointments of clerks and mesgen- gers employed, or to be employed, in or connected with the several departments of the government, in the city of Woshington, shall be inted from the several aud Territories of the United States in proportion to the representation of said States and Territories in ‘he House of Representatives, the District of Columbia being deem. ed, for this purpose, equal to one Congressional district; and also that, in making the selections to fill the aforesaid oilices, actugh residents of said several States and Terri- tories and ofthe District of Columbia shail in all cases be selected and appointed, and, as far as practicable, such selections shall made from the several Congressional districts of said States. ‘This is a ridiculous and impracticable scheme, and it would, if carried out, fill the public oftices at Washington with the most incompetent and worthless men, who would be selected only for their political services. As it is, they are quite bad enough; and certainly it would not be for the interest of the country to have them worse, The true policy would be to pass a law directing the President to require from the heads of the various departmenis re- turns of all their subordinates, with full observations 48 to their requirements, habits of industry, and attention to business, authorizing him, from those returns, to advance and to set back or discharge—if he sees fit—the clerks, according to their merits or demerits, and then—after sueh changes, and with a rule regulating future promotion and appointments—declaring their offices permauent, or only to be vacated for cause and on report of miscondact to the appointing power. Such a rule exists in the public offices of all well regniated governments, and would do more than anything else, if applied thoughout the whole country, to put down the present demoralizing and de- grading trade of politics. PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AND LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYES. There were two bills reported last session in the House for the reform of abuses in regard to public documents Ove was reported by Mr. Winslow, from theaJoint Com mittee on the Library; the other by Mr. Hughes, from the Select Committee on the Conduct and Accounts of the Doorkeeper. The first proposed to place all the public docoments printed by order of cither House in charge of the Secretary of the Interior, to be drawn from him on requisition by the Clerk of the House, Secretary of the Senate, &c.—thus avoiding collusion between the public printer and the superintendent of the folding room. The second proposed to make the latter offlee—which is now in the gift of the Doorkeeper—elective by the House, preser'bing bis duties and responsibilities, and making the clerical force employed by lim—with the exception of two permanent clerks—dependent on the authority of the Committee of Accounts. It will be recollected that last seesion the Doorkeeper was dismissed for having filled the folding room with a needless'y large number of em- ploy és, in disregard of the orders of the Committee of Accounts, These matters need reform, and as a couple of bours will suffice to dispose of them we presume Con- gress will attend to them imimediately. There is also a bill pending—reported by the Committee of Accounts— fixing the number and compensation of clerks, messen- gers, pages and laborers for the House of Representa. tives. There is much loosness about the employment and compensation of these persons, and the defect needs a remedy. The offices in the House, like those in the Senate, should be made permanent. BANKRUPTCY LAW Mr. Renjamin, of La., introduced in the Semate, ou the Sth of May tast, a bill t establish a uniform law on the subject of bankrapteres threughout the United States. 1 proposes to give the United States District Courts juris diction over the matter, and provides for the fling by the debtor of a petition, with an inventory of debts and as- sets, verifled by affidavits, on whic he shall be declared a bankropt, but bis debts must be not less than $2,000. Its prow.sions are numero being designed to meet ali the phases of the question. “It ought to be acted on at this session. THE PATENT OFFICE LAWS. The Committee on Patents in the House, through Mr. art, of Md., reported, om the 16th of March, a bill in ture of a Substitute for one introduced by Mr. Tay- or, of N. ¥., entitled a bill to promote the progress of the usetul aris, to regulate the granting of patents for inven- tour, and to repeal ail acts and parts of acts heretofore made for that parpose. In the Seaate, also, a bill baying the same general objects view Was reported by Mr. Evang, from the Committee on Patcnts and the Pater Otice, The subject ia too intricate and too little understood genotaily to give ground for the Wellef Mat it Will be disposed of, oF even touched, this ses- sou. COMPENSATION OF UNITED STATES DISTRICT aTToR- NEYS, ETC. An attempt war made last sexsion to systematize and fix the compensation of Netrict Attorneys, Marshals and Clerks of the Cirewt and District Courta of the United Stites, A bill fort was reported from the Se hile in the House one f Penneyivania, As it 1s to which these offleers are the subject wil! probably be passed this nat Purp Judiciary Me. Phit? session WRITS OF ERRON [N UNITED STATES COURTS. The Committee on the Jodictary in the Senate reported, on the 4th of Morch last, a Will 9 fore whom 9 conviction wos procured in any of the United States Courts to reserve soy question of law for decision hy the Supreme Court of the United Stater, aud im the meantime t respite execution of the judgment pro nownced. This measore is d J necessary and impor. tant, and, as there can be no objection to it, it will pro: bably become a law FRENCH SPOLIATION BILL. That long pending measure, tw provide for the ascertain. ment and satisfaction of claims of American citizens for Spoliatons committed och prior to the Stet day of July, 1801, will be up again this session, H having been mate the special order in the House for the 16th of Jonuary next. It provides for the appointment of three commissioners, to mect in Washington, and to decide within two years the amnount and validity of all the claims to be made under the act, the whole amount being limited to five millions of dollars, and if the aggregate of the awards exceeds that sum they are to be patd pro rata. Most of these claims are bogus, awl where any of them are at all valid they are grossly exaggerated. It is sup. posed that fifty thowsand dollars would more than com: peneate the losses inflicted on the occasion. PENSION BILLA. Two of the Tennessee members in the House (Messrs, Savage and Maynard) m: repeated efforts last session ® obtain the passage of a bill granting pensions to the officers and soldiers of the war with Great Britain of 1812, aud those engaged ‘n Indian wars daring that period They did not suceeed, how and they are not ver likely to succeed this session ether, although Mr. Savage's bill is made the special order for the second Tueeday in December. Those who sustained any injury in the ser vice from Wounds or exposure have beew already pro: vided with pentions, and all who actually served have got land warrants. But these bills go farther, and pro- pose to give to all who were enrolled for six months, whether they ever saw service or not, pensions equal to the full pay of the rank they held, It would be about as sensible a proposition to give pensions to the men who have done service in the encampment ground on Staven Island for the last three months, and, indeed, they have suffered more hardship in that duty than ninety-nine per cont of the soldiers of 1812. This penefon law would tax the treasury to the amount of eleven ye & year oer. tainly and probably ,to the amount of twonty millions, and would be the entering wedge for a great pesioning sys. tem like that of Great Britain, ‘The American citizen requires no sue inducement to make him take up arms for his country, and this praposi- tion must be repugnant to every high minded man who enrotted hinseif for defence in 1812. It is got up by some scheming peusiou ageuss (yc pluader, aad ia supported by In the Sonate a bill explanatory of an aot eutitled “ An act in addition to certain acts granting bounty land to cer- tain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States,” approved March 3, 1855, was reported back adversely from the Committee on Pensions; and in the House a bill was reported by the Committee on Invalid Peusious to equalize the army, navy aud marine pensions. Iw addition to these, the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, in the House, reported back a bill introduced by Mr. Grow, to provide for the settlement of the claims of the officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary army, aud of the widows and children of those who died in the ser- vice, This bill provides :— That the officers of the army of the Revolution who were entitled t half pay for life, under the resolutions of Con- annie the 3d and 2ist of October, 1780; the 17th of Javuary, 1781; the Sth of May, 1781, and the 8th of March, 1796, shall be entitled to receive the same, although such officer may have received in Leu thereof the commuta- ‘ton of full pay for five years, under the resolution of Con- ress of 22d of March, 1783; and directs that it shall be the ity of the proper accounting officer of the Treasury, when appliedto for that purpose by any one entitied to re- ceive, or bis ar her guardian, to ascertain what is due to such officer fram the time he became entitled to said half pay to the Lhd his death, and to pay the same to the Person so entitied to receive it. . This bill is founded upori a bad prineiple. No officer of the Revolution vould have becn mean enough to take ad- vantage of it, thuugh surviving relatives may, They had the choice of takng half pay for life or full pay for five years,and to thos who chose the latter it is now proposed togive, through tleir legal representatives, the value of that half pay that thoy declined to take.; The pretence is, ‘hat owing to the @preciation of the national currency at the time, the certifirates were sold at a large discount. But that is a flimsy argument, because the government re- deemed them at thet full nominal value. If the Revoiu tionary officers had been made up of such sordid persons as this bill contemphtes for beaeficiaries, our indepen- dence would hardly Lave been gained in that struggle. This bill is an insult te their memory ‘There is also a bill pending, introduced by Mr. Davis, of Massachusetts, toamend the law granting land to sol- diers and seamen, s0 2 to include those engaged on board private armed vessels regularly commissioned by the United States. This bil was referred to the Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union, aad a motion is pending to reconsider ihe vote by which it was so re ferred. COST OF INDIAN WARS. Oregon and Washingty have presented claims against the general government br several millions of dollars for services of volunteers it repelling {dian aggressions ‘These wars are usually manufactured by the volunteers during slack seasons for profit and excitement; but we suppose the general govertment must iadulge the settlers and foot the bills. A new system of dealing with the In- dian tribes, as well in reference to hostilities as to their lands and reservations, should certainly be initiated by Congress. EXPEDITION AGAINST THE MORMONS. It is quite probable that some exciting discussions be caused in both hoses in reference to the Mormou ques- Lou and the cost of tae expedition to Utaby SVESTIGATING COMMITTEES. The proceedings of the Willett’s Point Investigating Committee at last session haye still to be passed ou by the House, The committees to investigate the conduct ani accounts of the Inte Clerk of the House (Mr. Cullom): and the committee to investigate the conduct and av- counts of the two last. Doorkeepers, hold over from last session, and are to have their reports presented and dis- posed of. The revelations of frauds that have come to light during vacation in refereuce to the passage of the Wisconsin and Iowa land grauts may possibly give work to some more investigating committees. INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW. Mr. Morris, of Peunsyivania, carly in the last session introdaced a bill in the House establishing an interaa tional copyright law, but it never came up for discussion or action. He proposes to extend the beaefits of the ex- isting copyright law to all authors and proprietors not citizens of the United States, who shail, within one month of the publication of any book, musical composition or work of artin the country of which they are citizens, cause the same to be printed and published in the United ‘States. After the lapse of a month, without such publi- cation here, they may be imported or printed by any per. son. This act would make a good deal of work for Ame rican publishers, however little it might benefit foreigu authors. CONSULATE AT ROSARIO, SOUTH AMERICA Mr, Johu Cochraue, from the Committee on Commerce, reported last session a bill for the establishment of a United States Consulate at Rosario, on the river Parana, in thg Province of Santa Fe, of the Argeutiue Confedera- tion, which was not disposed of. THE NEW YORK BARGE OFFICE. The same gentleman also reported a bil! making an ap- propriation for strengthening and securing the fount. tions of the United States barge office in the city of New York. These foundations are evident!y very ricketty and no time should be lost in having them strengthened and se. cured. A few thousand dollars would do it. MMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE WATROUS. The Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives has had a great deal of trouble in several Congresses with the case of John C. Watrous, United States Dustrict Judge of Texas. The Legislature of that State bas time and Again passed resolutions calling on Congress for his im peachment on the ground of his having become cor- ruptly interested in the results of important suits pend. ing ta his Court fn relation to land grants in Texas. The Judiciary Committee at one Congress reported against his impeachment. At the close of the last Congress it re- ported dnonimously that he should be impeached—et Congress expired, and the report could not be acted on. His case was again before the Judiciary Committee during the most of last session, and a great mass of tes timony was taken. The committee, however, was equally divided on the question of his impeachment. Four of the members presented a report in favor of it, and four against. The ninth member did not attead t Ungs of the committee, and therefore did not siga either report. The test.momy was printed, and has been in the bands of members during the recess. They will have had sufficient time to igform themsetves of all the facts, and to vote intelligently for or against Judge Watrous’ impeach: ment, if the vote be for it, then it will dero've upon the Senate to try him. The trial would occupy weeks, if not months, unless the Judge would waive the oral examina tion of witnesses and let the notes of testimony taken be. fore the Jadetary Committee be read as evidence. There is also some taik of petitions being presented for the impeachment of a Peansylvania judge DROPPED AND RETIRED NAVAL OFricRns. Under the provisions of two joint resolations passed at last session the President was authorized to restore to the active or reserve Hist of the navy any officers who were dropped or retired under the Act of February 28, 1855, to promote the eilicteney of the wavy. His authority in the premises terminates, however, on the Ist of January, 1869. It is said that he has completed his examination and is rendy tosend his report to Congress. Most of the offi. cers, 't is surmised, will be restored to active duty. Such re-appointments as he shall haye made wil! come before the Senate fer confirmation. This will devolve some labor on that body. There is also the ease of Commander Bout- well, who was court martialled for an alleged disobedience of the orders of Commodore Mervine, and who was sen. tenced to be he suepended. The President, however, re. fumed to sonction the finding and seutence of the Court. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, There were several measures pending at the clove of last selon, and that will be brought up at this session. for the enefit of the city of Washington and of the tistrict of Columbia, Among these are: a bill to establish an auxit) ary guard for the protect.ou of public and private property in the city of Washington, @ Dili to organize a paid fire department in the District of Columbia, anda report rela tive to the abolition of tolls on the several turnpike roads within the District. It t® a notorious and at the same time @ most disgraceful fact, that the streets of Washington city are more insecure and more infested with rowdies than even the streets of Batimore. The police are inet cient, the criminal court of the District is a living libab upon justice, and unfortunately the Exeoutive prerogative of pardon i too often extended to convicted crimaals, One of the most cold blooded murders was perpetrated at the vory gates of the Capitol on a beautiful moonlit evening last winter. Two respectable citizens, both hold. ing governmant offices, were deliberately fired at with re volvers by two rufians, who had no other motve for the act than @ flendish thirst of blood. Both fell, piereed with three bullets cach, One of them lingered for months in agony and then followed to the grave his wife, who died from the shock Ofsocing the bleeding body of her husband borne bome: The other still lingers, suflering from lis wounds. After some weeke, the murderers wore arrested, and so deaps rate was their character and that of their associates in the City that & police officer who saw the occurrance actualiy refused to testify Antil he was coerced by the threat of imprigoameat. Tuey were (ried and gonvictgd—one of a murder, the otuor of an aliempt o comm) murder. The latter was sentenced to the penitentiary for cight years, the former tothe galiows. Aud yet there were respectabie persons found in Washington to take an interest in saving this ruffian’s life; and s0 powerful were that appeals the Executive for clemency that the gallows was cheated | of its vietum, aud the coudemned escaped with the punish- ment of imprisonment. It was from that and ot!er simi- lar outrages perpetrated about the same tine that suci efforts were made in Congress to establish force in Washingtou; but though there was uo doubt as to the necessity for such actioh, there were enough mem bers, from among those who thought that the citizeas ought to provide their own police, and those who did wot wish to give additional patronage to the Executive, to pre veut the passage of the measure. ‘The proposition will probably be renewed this session, as well ad the other two propositions about the Fire Depart. ment and the turnpike roads. There is ala a bill pending in the Senate to enlarge the public grounds surroundiug the Capitol. There is no limiting the expenditure to which this would give rise; for not only will the appraised value of the ground taken bave to be paid by the United States, but all property holders far miles east of the Cay- tol will bring claims against the government for deprec'a- tion of their property, owing to the change of the road leading to it. NAVY DEPOT ON BLYTHE ISLAND, ETO. Mr. Seward, of Georgia, procured the passage of an act in January, 1857, establishing a navy depot on Blythe island, at Brunswick, on the coast of Georgia. He intro- duced, last session, a bill to amend that act, to make fur- ther appropriations to prosecute said object, ana to make guch improvements as are necessary for the repairs and construction of vessels of war. The bill was commit. ted to the Committee of the Whole on the State of the | Union, a committee which, for matters outside of the ge- neral appropriation Dills, is facetiously known as ‘ the: tomb of the Capulets."’ Mr. Seward moved, on the Sth of May, to reconsider the vote by which the bill was so re- ferred—and that motion is still undisposed of. There ix also a bill pending, reported from the Post OMice Commit. tee, providing for certain public buildings for post ottice and other government purposes. SUFFRAGES IN THE TERRITORIES. A Dill to regulate and make uniform the right of frage in the Territories of the United States was, on the 10th of May last, committed to the same committee. Mr Zollicotter made a similar motu, which is also still un disposed of. PRIVATE BILLS. The following private bills, which were on the calendar of the House, were not disposed of at Une adjourmneat of the last session — Bills for the reliet of — C. H. Mason. Charles J. Ingersoll Eliphalet Brown, Jr Katharine KX. Russel) Charlotte Butler Joseph M. and Mary & Plummer Henry Taylor. Heirs of John Hopper Heirs of Johu A. Hopper Heirs of Mary Jem/son, Horrs of Jota J. Bulow, Jr Hector St. Jolin Beatie: Henrietta 8. Clark Mary W. Thompson Heirs of Wm. York saac S. Sunith, of Syracuse, NY. J. W. Nye (two bills) Heirs of Rev. James Craig Wilham Walker. Heirs of Lieut. Bartlett Hinds Cyrenius Glass. Ghorge Chorpenniug aud Buzabeth Worwad aad her children. Messrs. Deut, Vautine & Co Hiram Paulding Jobin M. Brooke Francis Dainese. Edwin M. Chaftoe R. LB. Clarke Heirs of Captain Samuel Miler Heirs of William Edmondstoo Abe! M. Butler Hannah Litte!, aad for other purposes George P. Mais Jobn P. Brown Mrs. Mary Ann Heary Assignees of Hugh Glean. Joseph © G. Kennedy William F, Waguer Joseph Hardy and Altoa Loug Enoch B. Talcott muel A. Fairchilds. all Neilson. Phas Hall, of Rutland, Vermoat. Shade Galloway. Heirs of Nebemiah Stokely Representatives of Licuteuant Thomas Wiiliams, a revo- lutionary officer. i Heirs of Nathaniel Heard Heirs or legal reprosevtatives of Francow Guillory. John H. Wheeler, late U. 8, Minister at Nicaragua Fimira White, wisow of Captain Thomas R. White. Edward’ N. Kent Legal representatives of Thomas H. Morris, late Post- master of Me city of New York. J, W. Tititon, Presbyterian Church at Princetoa, New Jorsey Heirs of Major Joun Ripiey Heirs of Benjamim Wilson Heirs of Dr. Benjamn Chapin. ia David Noble Yarmaduke ard others. B. Dodd and others. er Williams (the Dauphin, since deceased), sols heir of Mary Ann Williams and Thomas Williams, (report ed from the Committee on Military Affairs) Fleazer Wijlioms (the same), reported from the Com- mittee on Indian Affairs Wm. B. Draper F. George Squier, of New York Wm. K Jennings amt others, Surviving childrea of Basil Miguault, au oMicer of the Revolutionary war. Jobn Robb Henry Hubbard Wm. i. Russet Capt. A.W. Reynolds. Riebard Fitepatrick Chamer T. Scaife, administrator of Gilbert Statter. Mrs. hi : E. . Eliza B. Ogden. Corne!: Wm E = mee. administrator of Joba Boy's, deesased. P.S Duval & Co. ©, Biward Habicht, administrator of J. W. Lewis, ‘Mull & Couzens and Jon Naylor & Co. Simon de Visser and Jose Viliarubia, of New Orleans. Alien L. Porter mitor of James Adams, decease, fol 8. Roberts, late Postmaster at Lueta B. Adams, ex one of the sureties of Springtie!t. Ub Samuel H. Woolson. John Scott, Hill W. Howse and Samue! O. House, John Kelly. Gideon Walker. of Charles PorterGeld. ivtogeton. Ruzabeth Montgomery, heir of Hugh Moatgomery. Representatives of Captain Louis Marnay. a atives of Captain Prerre Ayott, a Revolutions. ry oflicer: eine or legal representatives of James Beli, late of . in the provinee of Lower Canada of the late Mrs. Harriet de la Palm Baker, de- ceased, danghter and legal heirs of the late Cotone! Frede- rick Weissenfils, of the army of the Revolution. He' re and legal representatives of Gerard Wood, de. ceased. legal representatives of Jonn Denmaa and George Townley epr sentatives of Brigadier General Wm. Thomp- S00. Legal representatives of John Man‘leyilte, deceased. Heirs of Robert Paul, a soldier of the Revolution. Orphan chiidren of ! Philip Jobuston, Heirs of Baronet de Kiyn, deceased. John 6. Sewell Mrs. Ambroise Browe, of the parish of St. Charles, State of Louisiana. Heirs and legal representatives of Olivier Landry, of the State of Louisiana Sylvestar Titan: Livingston, Kinkead & Go, Jacob Thomas Kerr, Brierly & Co. , of the State of Missour!. Ephraitn Hunt tha O'Brien, widow of Brovet Major J. J. (the U. % army. McCormick, Assistant Surgeon in the Caited States Army. Legal representatives of Francisco Robalda: Mrs. A Angus, widow of the late Captaia Samuct Airgus, United States Navy Lieutenant John C. Carter. Henry Etting Filza'M. Archer President aud Directors of the Panama Ra‘lroad Com. ny 4 aptain John G. Tod, late of the navy of Texas mas J. Page, Uuited States Navy yaolds Rishard W. Meade F. M. Grinnell, Passed Assistant Surgoan is the Navy. Tavid 1. Porter. David Myerte. Witla 1. Mosloy Legal representatives of Jota A. Frost, decaased Witham Honter Legal representatives of J. B. Marta Anton L. ©. Portiaan Townsend Harris. Frances Ann McCauley George W. Lippitt. Noah Smith, late private in the army of the United States (reported with a recommendation that it do not ). Pyeremiah Pendergast, of the District of Columbia James A. Glanding Jobn Brest, a soldier in the war of 1812. Mra. Kiiza A. Merchant, widow of the late First Liew tenant and brevet Captain Charles G. Merchant, of the United State army Simon Pecord Webster 8. Stoote Emma A. Wood, widow of the late brevet Major George W._F. Wood, of the United States army. Thomas Berry James Smith Lemuel Wooster Abner Merrill, Jane Smith, widow of Francis Smith Henry Snider of Jefferson county, Otuo. Jonatuaa Willams Swilt, strong police | Ant! Casio, a soldier in the war of 1812. Jono ‘kell, late a Hieutenact iu the Umibed Biates news Joseph Nock. Kaward N. Kent, Ly i=} oe ‘her tharies Knap Legal representatives of Samual Pitts, deceased. Lewal representatives of five deceated ctorks im ( Philadelphia Custom House. James Phelan Charles James Lanman. Sutlers of the United States army. Michael Nourse | Asbury Diekins George A» Magruder, with a recomueadation that if not John Robb Moses Noble. | Ail to indemaify Hoary Leet and Joha McKee, for | legal seizure of a certain bark. Exteniting the patent granted to Wm. Cranpton, for improvement in figure and fancy power [ooms, for sy | years from (he 25th day of November, 1858, |” For the payment of the claim of J, W. Nye, assignee | petor Bargy, Jr., and Hugh Stewart, 5 To author ze the Commissioner of Ti Affairs | adjudieate and settle certaia claims he Menon Providing an increase of pension to Peter ‘Buskir of Washington, D. @. s ) | _ Granting a pension to. Mary Blattenberger,, widow John Biattenberger. Vor the payment of extra compensation Enpeb | Talcott, for his services and expenses in recovering g vernment funds embezzled by Jacob Richar Authorizing Mrs. Jane Smith to euter certain lamis the State of Alabama, To provide for quieting certain land titles in the | disputed territory in the State of Maine, and for ot purposes. x 4 Releasing to the legal representatives of John Mot ‘ bese crigg the title of the United States to a certain f* of iand. To amend an act entitied anact to authorize the tw { cation of land warrants, numbered 3, @ and 6, grant by Congress to Genera. Lafayette—Approved Februa) 2b, 1845. ‘Yo coufirm certa:a land claims in the Territory of N Mexico. | To confirm the title of Benjamin FE. Fawards to a ¢ tain tract of land in the Territory of New Mexico. To provide for the finai settlement of the land claim the heirs of John Underwood in Florida. ) — Granting bounty land to Abram Staples, hteir-at law Isaac Staples, a Revolutionary soldier, ‘To confirm to Wm. Marvin ‘title to ands ia Kast For To provide for the payment of certain Foy ree are To increase the pay of watchmen at the ed Stat Naval @bservatory at Georgetown. To continue the pevsion of Katharine M. Hamer Granting an iuvalid pension to John Purcell, Way | Tompkins, Wm. Burns, of vbio, Conrad Duval, Abtaass Crom, Erastus Hutebins, Nathan Randall, John Piper, Jncreasing the invalid pension of George W. Bean. Tncreasing Use pension of tsaac Alien Maine. Granting a pension to Mary Sherciif, widow of ov Sherelitt Authorizing the coliection aad publication of cots public documents , The following bills reported from the Court of Clete were reported back Crom the Committee on Claims im tb House, @th a recommendation that they do not , af. or the reltet of— Jane Stnith, of the county of Clermont, Obie * » Tacinda Robinson, of the covuty of Orleans, Ve Hanna Weaver, of ‘ounty, Pa. Ann Clark, of Madison county, Ta Mory Burt, Seta county, Olno. Stevens, Vaa Boren county, Mich Gloucester county, R. I. 4 county, Ohio. P ty, Ohio. ty, Teom. a Tepton, White covnty, Tenn ctia Wilcox, Wayne county, Mich. Mary Robbins, Westmoreiand county , Pa. Tempy Connel!y, Johnson county, Ky. Rosamond Robinson, Belkuap county, N Janne Martin, Harrison county , Va Melinda Durkee, Georgia Sarah Weed, Albany county, 8. ¥ Mary Pierce, Cortlandt county, N. ¥ Aun B Jobason, Henrico couaty, Va. Hanpah Meu: Rebecca l* e, Keutucky Anve Hill, Monroe county, NY Polly Booth, Madison county, N. ¥ Sarah Katou, Worcester county , Mass. Temperance Childress, Virgimia, Fiizaboth King, Virginia. Lydia Clapp, Washington eounty, N.Y. Biizabeth Morgan, Renaselacr county, N.Y Phebe Polly, Otsego county, N.¥. Nancy [ttig, Herkimer county, N. ¥. Mary Anne Hooper, Virginia. Almira Reuiit, Pemasyivania Sarah Loomis, New Loon couaty, Conn Mai y Grant, South Caronna There are also several bills of a private charactor the qaleadar of the Seaate. Most of them will be fr disposed of Uns session. During the vacation two of the moat respected mem" of the House of Representatives paid the debt of na’ Gea. Jon © Quitinan, of Mississippi, died at his reside Monmouth, ia that State, on the 17th of July last; anc ‘brother in-arms during the Mexican war, and colleag the House of Representatives, Major{Thomas L. Har: Tikagis, died at his home, on the morning of Wedas the %th inst. Due honors will be paid 9 their mew: in both branches of the national Congress. It t# to be hoped that our national legisiators, owe * ‘ng the vast amovat of busivess oa which they. will to passat this Session, will set to work early, tadu ously and practically, and make the second seasiou o4 ‘Thirty fifth Coagress of the United States a model for imitation of future Congresses, Anua Parrol, Clinton co Bargret Trylor, Putuan e¢ The Case of Body Snatching. Yesterday afternoon the wife of the deceased Tho Carey, whose body was found in the Sedical Cotlog Fourteenth street, and used for dissecting purposes peared before Justice Welsh with a view of makin affiday it as tothe manner in which her deceased bust had bea carried off, and the horrible manner ia w she had found the corpse mutilated. The following is aiidayit, as swora to before Justice Welch — temporarily with « stek fr: rth ‘anit ear nen! fa informed, about the 18th of Novem her iratnnt exeruons, in Bellevue Mat tf was rough’ to rg Poorteenth atreci Mediral € taal large portion r ‘ la Death street, sak Kuhn «od Wheelin are at mt! Maline'® coffin wareroum, that F. | ve ton ts counected wath the Coroner's office, and that Dr. T © inne? has an offles at No 38 Grad street in sald city deporent further staves. ha’ she waa present at Hellevae | ae pital meiay morning, (he isth day of November 164, aud was there shown a deed 01), wisieh she recogatzed at ! body of her Businnd. Thomas tires. who departed thi Ife on the 7th day of November, 188%, af No. 418 Pear! sirect. ina depar ent recogaized the Loy by’ the left side of his face, ia tysth and chis Deponent further aays that the flesh on ie Tight site of the face was not the deshof her husbandt. dia ft i .f was the fess of some other person, aad had new sewed tn: the bratun had been taken out and Med with eniton: the and whiskers Were mustag hte Aad deponeat further save that tbe recogniees | bos bis arms up to his elbows, us belonging to her husband off not belong ty her husband, and * Jeft aide ot the siomact ‘4 Pout furtarr may the’ che body waa cot sad disigared. portions of the token Francis Whelan also made an ailidavit, nd stated that we was calied on by Dir. Panel! 9 the day of the death of Cwvy_ wi nested to remove the said from No. 418 Peart street to Fourteenth street. that he converad the sald oy to the Medical College in Fourteenth street, between Thicd ant Fourth avenues and there Sete ae Pingel) hat about three or four days aPerwards Dr. Finnell agin ov ree hira, when he ( 0) to have the wid to Hel : iat be removed and ewe - ‘wich the rey seat. and that at the College Dr Finnel mre hm comtticats of burial, and one of big own cards to ave t7 ¥, the warden: body was pro jue ded Ivntae an direction _ George Kuhoe. (nan alhdark also made before J ustics Vets. ‘Aistes (ont be was at No 418 Peart he it < s present dad: in lacing the corpse of the deceased aasiated Io carry it down, and place It ina to James Malove's undertaker, No. #96 Pearl deceased was fully dresset in binek el and ¢ Connery, but cou! not recognt: a the one be aa rect: tnt the alt Doty was terribly disigured by being cut up. Dr. Finnell did not appear aod make an aMdavit, but i is said he will doso today. The examination will com Fa this moraimg, at eleven o'clock, before Justos eis. Obltuary. The Hon. Wissam Semey died at lis residence ja Au- gusta, Georgia, on the 20th inst. of paralysis, with whic ys since. Mr. Sehiew bas held position wats! TFs Tegisiature and served during 95; and in 1335 was Cie © Governor of the’ State, and Giled that office until 1837 Mr. Schiey was at one time the Grand Master of the Grund In 1830 he represented hie county int 1982 he was elected to seaston@o! 1838, "34, and Lodge of Georgia, and for about twenty-five years (rom its organizayon, in 1822, the Grand High Priest of the Gran | Royal Aroh Chapter of the State, and was its firet ding officer, and among the oldest Masons in the He was President of the Medial College of —— at the time of his death. Mr. Selley was in the ctty of Frederick, in the State of Maryland, on the 10th 0° Decem: ber, 1786; was educated in the academies at Louisville Py and admitted to practice law in Frederick ia 1812. , General Apranam Verrtaxon, one of the veterans of 1812, died at his residence in Brooklyn, on Monday, the 224, at the advanced age of sixty-five. Gen. Verplanck was born at Coeymaus, Leann heir He served in the war of 1812, ana has occapred bigh official position ta Wis State ——_——— ‘The Case of Knox, the Hatter, TO THE EDITOR OF THR HERALD. The report in your paper that Tf bad been arrestet on a charge of perjury is not exactly correct; it is true sich a charge bas been made, I whall have no difiew , refuting it and showing that it is on attempt to coerce: th Sottioment af an unfounded claim. T have 0 fear the the confidence of the public which, during twenty yoar has been 80 Liberally bestowed upon me, will be i ou wise diminished by thie impotent essay on oe New Yous, Novy. 26, 1868. | |